The Activities of the Suffragettes caused more harm than good
Throughout the early twentieth century, the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies campaigned to obtain womens' vote and to achieve suffrage. However a group of women, within this organisation, became dissatisfied with the peaceful tactics being used and felt the only way to further their movement was to use more forceful tactics. This led to the formation of the Women's Social and Political Union, which was also known as the suffragettes. The suffragettes methods of acquiring the vote has become more extreme as time passed, therefore some of their methods hindered their campaign rather than assisting with it.
On the 1st March 1912, the suffragettes broke every show window in Piccadilly Circus, Regent street and Oxford street. They targeted businesses and places which were used by mostly men. This action would have stalled the women's movement, as it would have discouraged men to co-operate with them in their plight for the vote, as it was said the only way women would attain the vote was for it to be given by men. This event would have also made even those who encouraged the Suffragettes, critical of them. Vandalism and destruction proved to be a key tactic used by the WSPU. For example, 200 suffragettes were arrested for throwing stones at 10 Downing Street. When police raided the WSPU head-quarters, there arrested Emmeline Pethwick- Lawrence, while Christabel Pankhurst managed to flee to France. With Christabel Pankhurst relaying her commands from abroad, and Emmeline Pethwick-Lawrence in jail, the WSPU must have been at its weakest; therefore their progress in the campaign was hindered. This circumstance was caused mainly due to the activity of the WSPU.
